- (1.) The Punjab State Electricity Board (for short 'the Board') has filed the instant petition assailing the order dated 3.1.1994, Annexure P1, passed by the Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Bhatinda whereby applications filed under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short 'the I.D. Act') have been entertained and allowed, and directions have been issued to the Board to calculate and pay the financial benefit of bonus to the private respondents who were daily wage workers.
(2.) Brief facts that would require notice are that respondents No.1 to 15, who were daily wage workers, filed identical applications under Section 33C(2) of the I.D. Act seeking payment of bonus from the date of their engagements as daily wage workers till the date of filing of the applications. The petitioner-Board filed reply and a copy of which has been placed on record at Annexure P3, taking a preliminary objection that the application is not even maintainable under Section 33C(2) of the I.D. Act as the applicant/daily wage worker had no existing right to claim the amount towards bonus. On merits, the claim was resisted by contending that the existing Rules/ Regulations/ Instructions of the Board do not admit such benefit towards bonus in favour of the daily wage workers.
(3.) The Labour Court framed the following issues: i) Whether the application is not maintainable as alleged in preliminary objections taken in written statement ii)Whether the applicants are entitled to the amount claimed iii)Relief.;